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November 1990, Buffer, Vol. 25, no. 11, University of Denver
Editor: Christine de Aragon, cdearago@du.edu, CDEARAGO@DUCAIR
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Ten Commandments for Electronic Mail Users
 
1.  Check your mail regularly; ignoring a mail message is
discourteous and confusing to the sender.
 
2. Answer messages in a timely manner, informing senders when
their requests cannot be accommodated.
 
3. Delete messages as soon as they have been answered or the
issue resolved. For messages that you want to save, develop an
orderly filing system.
 
4. Use good judgement by not sending electronic mail which is
slanderous, obscene or in bad taste.
 
5. Don't edit and re-send a message you have received without
indicating that changes have been made to the original.
 
6. Remember that electronic mail is neither absolutely private
nor absolutely secure; the recipient of the message has control
of the content and can use it how he/she chooses.
 
7. Use electronic mail responsibly; don't waste resources by
sending frivolous messages and don't accumulate large amounts of
mail that you don't need.
 
8. Not all mail users are proficient at using mail, so be patient
and understanding of others.
 
9. Expand your knowledge and use of electronic mail, by checking
on-line documentation. For VMS mail type the HELP command and for
Unix mail use the man mail or primer commands.
 
10. Encourage your associates to communicate with you by
electronic mail; it has advantages to you both: speed, reduction
of telephone tag, reduced paper waste, ease of reply and record
of communications.
 
(Editor's note: the preceding article originally appeared in the
May/June 1988 issue of Digit magazine, the computing newsjournal
at the University of Colorado at Boulder. It is reprinted with
permission.)
 
 
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Copyright Notice
 
If you use this article, in whole or in part, in printed or
electronic form, you are legally and morally obligated to credit
the author and the original publication name and date. It is
suggested that you also inform the author or editor of your
intention to use this article, in case there are updates or
corrections that he or she might suggest.
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